Norman Jewison was one of the greats. A lovely guy, a gentleman, and an incredibly talented director. He died today at age 97.
Jewison, who was Canadian, directed a slew of hit movies including “Moonstruck,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “The Hurricane,” and two with Jane Fonda: “Rollerball” and “Agnes of God.”
He was a director’s director, his name was on every list for decades. “Can we get Norman Jewison?” was something heard in a lot of meetings in Hollywood.
“Moonstruck” was probably his high water mark, except that both “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “In the Heat of the Night” are also considered classics. He also made a cult hit with “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.”
This evening Lee Grant — who returned to Hollywood after more than a decade lost to the blacklist in “In the Heat of the Night” — Tweeted: “Norman Jewison is a giant and I am in his debt. He gave me back a career at the end of the blacklist. I doubt there has been a more versatile director before or since. A huge hearted man and truly unique talent. Nothing I say here can do him justice. But I can say ‘Thank You'”
What a life! What a career! Condolences to his family.
